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Wolves, Bison and FWP Budget

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Camo5 1 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will get several important new biologists, as well as needed new equipment and other tools, under the main state budget that moved forward this week.

HB 2, the main state operating budget, passed out of the full House this week in great shape for Montana’s hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts. FWP has asked for a pair of grizzly bear management specialists, a big game planner and some equipment to replace ATVs and boats that are old and outdated.

That was among the highlights from the past week, in which as always MWF’s staff, lobbyist and volunteers showed up to testify and talk to legislators to stand up for our wildlife, habitat, and access. Here are the bills that saw action this week:

FWP Budget Solid

HB 2 General appropriations act (Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton) passed the House in great shape for FWP’s operations. It includes grizzly bear specialists in Butte and Red Lodge, which are two areas seeing many more grizzlies moving in, as well as a wildlife planner position to update the statewide elk management plan. The bill also includes new boats, off-road vehicles and other equipment that FWP needs to do its job in the field.

The Bill Now Heads to the Senate

In addition, HB 5, which is the capital improvements bill, passed second reading in the full House this week. The bill includes the appropriation for Habitat Montana, which is our best state conservation and access program.

Wolf Bills

Numerous wolf bills have come forward this session, ranging from several bills to lower the cost of wolf hunting licenses for both resident and non-resident hunters, to bills to allow bounties to be paid for trappers.

HB 279 Allow for wolf trapper reimbursement (Rep. Bob Brown, R-St. Regis) would allow groups to pay trappers for wolves they kill. MWF does not support payments for the taking of any game species, which is a bounty and a system we abandoned nearly a century ago. The bill was heard in the Senate Fish and Game committee this week, where MWF opposed it.

MWF also opposed in the Senate Fish and Game committee HB 291 Create voluntary wolf mitigation fund (Rep. Becky Beard, R-Elliston). The bill would create a fund at FWP where hunters can donate to pay USDA Wildlife Services. Such voluntary programs rarely generate much funding, and such programs can end up costing FWP money. MWF asked for a sunset on the program to see if it works, similar to numerous other FWP programs included many of our best conservation programs.

We supported HB 281 Revising laws related to how non-resident wolf licenses are issued (Rep. Bob Brown, R-Thompson Falls). The bill would allow non-resident hunters who buy a big game or deer combination hunting license to add on a wolf license for half price, which is $25.

Wounded Veterans Programs

HB 275 Revise hunting privileges for Purple Heart recipients (Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell) would revamp how we issue licenses that Montana residents purchase and can donate to injured veterans for use in guided hunts supplied by outfitters. This program has worked successfully for several years, but needed some changes to get more veterans to qualify. It passed second reading in the Senate this week.

Bison Redefined

HB 132 Clarify definition of bison (Rep. Kenneth Holmlund, R-Miles City) would make all bison within the state of Montana domestic animals, including those coming out of Yellowstone National Park. It would redefine as domestic any bison that has ever been reduced to captivity, among the criteria, and that includes bison that are held in a quarantine facility for testing.

The bill passed the Senate with amendments and is going back to the House for final approval. MWF opposes the bill.

APR Resolution

MWF joined five other groups this week to write a letter in opposition to HJ 28, Joint resolution requesting denial of American Prairie Reserve grazing permit (Rep. Dan Bartel, R-Lewistown). The American Prairie Reserve as a private landowner has opened up more than 27,000 acres of land to Montana hunters through the Block Management program. In addition, the nonprofit group has opened access to public lands that have been off-limits to public hunters for years.

APR is requesting to change to year-round grazing its leases with the Bureau of Land Management, and MWF has supported that. MWF testified against the resolution in the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee.

Other Bills

Several bills have become law in the past week that was clean up measures. They include:

HB 43 Revise landowner elk license laws to allow non-transferable licenses for landowners who sign a contract with FWP to allow public hunters (Rep. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis).  

HB 94 Clarify hunting access programs’ statutes (Rep. Zach Brown, D-Bozeman).

HB 143 Remove sunset on three-day nonresident bird license (Rep. Neil Duram, R-Kalispell).

MWF supported all of the bills.

Looking Ahead

This week will be another busy one as we enter the final month of the Legislature. MWF staff, volunteers and lobbyist will again be busy making sure the voice of Montana’s hunters and anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts are heard in the Capitol. Your participation is important, so stay engaged and check your email, our Facebook page and our website for alerts and information as bills come forward. You can also check our bill tracker for real-time updates on the status of bills.

 

Nick Gevock

Conservation Director

 

Private Property Rights and Hunter Access Under Attack

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Copy of Copy of Copy of Tabled in the House Fish Wildlife and Parks Committee Public Input in Wildlife Management Protected 4 HB 265, sponsored by Rep. Kerry White, R-Bozeman, would require the state Land Board approve conservation easements under the Habitat Montana program. This program has protected more than 880,000 acres of crucial habitat including winter range for big game and opened those lands to permanent public hunting access. Lands projects go through extensive review by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, independent appraisers, and finally through the Fish & Wildlife Commission.

Last year the Land Board injected politics into the program and indefinitely delayed the Horse Creek easement near Wibaux. That put at risk 20,000 acres of excellent mule deer, antelope, and bird hunting and threatened the future of a Montana ranch family to stay on their land.

The state Supreme Court ruled easements don’t require Land Board approval, and are complete when the Fish and Wildlife Commission approves them. HB 265 would undo that, and re-inject politics into wildlife management & private property rights decisions. The bill passed the House and is now going to the Senate.

Please contact the Senate and tell them to Vote NO on this bad bill for landowners, hunters, and all Montanans. Send a custom message and tell them to protect Habitat Montana, our best state conservation and access program. You can click here to send an email, or call the state switchboard at 444-4800.

 

Budget Moves Ahead in Great Shape

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Camo5 The Montana Legislature was back in full swing this week following the brief transmittal break. As we enter the second half of the session, the budget for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is in good shape after passing the House and other good bills continue to move forward.

As always, MWF staffers and our lobbyist were in the Capitol to make sure our voices were heard. And it’s having an effect. Our work this past week included a lobby day in which more than a dozen volunteer activists showed up to speak about our key bills on access, habitat protection and on a resolution affecting elk management.

Here are the highlights from the week.

Camo at the Capitol and HB 265

MWF joined a half dozen other sporting groups to host a “Camo in the Capitol” lobby day for sportsmen and sportswomen. It was a big success, with hunters and anglers showing up from Butte, Anaconda, Missoula, Helena, Bozeman and as far as Glasgow to get a quick lobby training and then head to the Capitol to lobby on a total of five bills.

The day included a working lunch with the governor’s staff, FWP Director Martha Williams and Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney to talk about our bills this session on improving public access, sage grouse conservation and on elk management.

The day was completed when the sportsmen and sportswomen attended the Senate Fish and Game Committee for the hearing on HB 265 (Rep. Kerry White, R-Bozeman) which would undo last year’s state Supreme Court ruling that Land Board approval is not required for Habitat Montana conservation easements.

MWF and our affiliates worked hard on the Horse Creek Complex conservation easement and the Supreme Court case. It’s important because landowners need certainty that when they begin the lengthy process of negotiating an easement with FWP, it will be completed once the Fish and Wildlife Commission approves it.

Trapping Setbacks

HB 552,  (Rep. Bob Brown, R-Thompson Falls) would have barred in state law the ability for Montana FWP to establish setbacks for traps on closed roads on public lands. This is a recipe to set up numerous conflicts with recreational users because snowshoers, cross country skiers, bird and lion hunters and numerous other people use these roads for recreation. And many bring their dogs with them, which means the bill would set up these closed roads to have dogs getting caught in traps.

The bill had been tabled but was revived this week in the House FWP committee. It came out amended but was still a recipe to create conflict between trappers and the non-trapping recreational users. The bill died on the House floor Friday 50-50. MWF supports trapping but also understands that its future will be dependent on resolving conflicts between trappers and the non-trapping public.

Other Bills Advance

A host of other bills continue to move forward this session. They include: HB 29 Revise bird hunting dog laws (Rep. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton); HB 205 Revising laws related to fish pond licenses (Rep. Ray Shaw, R-Sheridan); HB 239 Allow special drawing refunds to be redirected to block management program (Rep. Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula); HB 432 Allow bonus points for limited fishing licenses, tags, and permits (Rep. Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula)

MWF supports all of the bills.

FWP Budget

Montana FWP’s operating budget, in HB 2, came out of the House Appropriations committee in really good shape this week. The bill is the main portion of the budget for the agency and includes several strong provisions that MWF supported.

Among them are two grizzly bear management specialist positions, who will help manage grizzly bears and work to prevent conflicts with livestock and other issues. In addition, the budget includes a new staff position as a wildlife planner for deer and elk. MWF supports revamping the 2004 statewide elk management plan, and FWP needs the staff to do it.

HB 2 also includes new equipment that FWP staff needs. That list includes new boats, off-road vehicles, and two new helicopters to conduct wildlife counts.

Thanks again for being a member of MWF’s Legislative Action Team. Please encourage friends and family to join, and stay engaged as we continue to move through the session. As we move closer to the end, MWF will continue to work in the Capitol every day for our public wildlife, habitat and to improve public access.

MWF Conservation Director Nick Gevock

HB 10 Upgrading a 20 Year-Old System

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IMG 3163 When FWP’s Automated License System was created, smartphones didn’t exist and people were searching the web with Alta Vista. It doesn’t make sense to use a 20-year-old system for selling hunting and fishing licenses, managing permits, and collecting data. HB 10 includes funding for a long overdue upgrade to the ALS – which won’t cost taxpayers anything because it will be paid for with hunter/angler license fees. MWF joined a broad coalition of sporting groups in sending a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging passage of this needed system.

Camo At The Capitol

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Jeff Lukas – MWF Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas

Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas is a passionate conservationist who has been fishing and hunting his entire life. Whether it’s floating a small stream chasing trout, pursuing elk in the high country, or waiting in a blind for ducks to set their wings, Jeff is always trying to bring more people afield to show them what we are trying to protect. He loves being in the arena, and he will never shy away from conversations about the beautiful and unique corners of Big Sky country.